Expert Technologies Group shook hands on a deal to acquire a Mazak Quick Turn 350MSY at MACH 2022 earlier this month. The machine is the first Mazak acquired by the group and it went straight from MACH to Expert’s facility in the northwest of England. Expert Technologies Group is a global provider of automation solutions for a variety of sectors, ranging from medical and pharmaceutical through to food and beverage, automotive and aerospace. The group has seven global locations, including three manufacturing facilities in the UK.

Chris Clifton, head of manufacturing at Expert Technologies, says: “Our philosophy is to provide the most advanced manufacturing technologies and it’s important that our own machining capabilities therefore remain at the cutting edge. The machine we selected fits our requirements perfectly, while the combination of machine capability, build quality and ongoing support made the decision even easier.”

For further information
www.mazakeu.co.uk

Cidan Machinery of Sweden has acquired long-bed folding machine producer Thalmann Maschinenbau, based in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. The 50 employees of Thalmann will join the Cidan Machinery Group and remain employed at Frauenfeld. This acquisition marks a major step forward for both companies, creating a sheet metal equipment manufacturer and software developer that integrates all operations from decoiling to folding.

Petter Hjelmqvist, CEO and president of Cidan Machinery, says: “Cidan and Thalmann already share a great history together. Over a period of many years, both companies have established a number one position for long folders in the Americas. With Thalmann now being part of the Cidan group, I am convinced that Cidan will make Thalmann stronger and Thalmann will make Cidan stronger.”

For further information https://cidanmachinery.com

Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has introduced a solid end milling platform which offers an affordable series of cutting tools that demonstrate high performance and reliability in steel, stainless steel and cast iron applications. The new Widia WCE solid-carbide end mills deliver a cost-effective solution to suit small to medium machine shops.

Widia’s WCE platform initially features the new WCE4, a versatile four-flute geometry that offers features such as an asymmetrical pitch and variable helix. The asymmetrical pitch eradicates the harmonic effect of the tool to reduce vibration, enhance swarf evacuation and prolong tool life. Likewise, the variable helix geometry further reduces vibration to permit heavy cutting, while improving surface finish, tool life and overall stability.

WCE4 also introduces a new grade, WU20PE. According to ITC, this versatile grade provides exceptional versatility, giving the new end mills the facility to perform extremely well on steel, stainless steel and cast iron, as well as on high-temperature alloys and hardened materials. The grade’s design features, coupled with the four-flute geometry, deliver an end mill with reliable performance and application versatility, even in demanding operations such as full slotting and heavy cutting scenarios. Widia’s new variable helix end mills are available in diameters from 3 to 20 mm, and are suitable for shoulder milling, slotting, helical milling, ramping, plunge milling and 3D profiling.

The WCE platform includes four-flute square-end and ball-nose end mills with both straight and Weldon shanks available in metric and imperial dimensions. To provide complete flexibility, the new WCE4 series is also available with corner radii and a necked shank, providing engineers with additional reach when machining deep cavities, slots and complex forms. Later in 2022, ITC and Widia will be introducing the new WCE5 five-flute geometry end mills.

For further information
www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Yamazaki Mazak is set to open a new headquarters for its European laser business in Italy. The rising importance of European subsidiaries, as well developments in laser cutting technology, has ultimately led to the creation of a dedicated site, the new ‘European Technology Center (ETC) – Laser’ alongside the Italian subsidiary in Cerro Maggiore, near Milan.

The grand opening of ETC Laser will take place at an open house on 26-28 May. Notably, the new 800 sq m facility includes: a large showroom, where a selection of the company’s flagship laser-cutting machines will be in operation; a clean room, for maintenance operations on delicate optical components such as cutting heads; and other technological areas related to laser cutting machines.

For further information
www.mazakeu.com

A new electrochemical plasma process that reduces the surface roughness of 3D printed metal components is now part of Fintek’s subcontract services and machine sales in an exclusive agreement with Wallwork Heat Treatment. Palms, which stands for Plasma Additive Layer Manufacture Smoothing, was developed by Wallwork’s Cambridge R&D centre and its Manchester machine build division, which pioneers plasma coating equipment used by aerospace manufacturers, motorsport engineers and university R&D departments.

Wallwork director Simeon Collins says: “Despite the progress in additive manufacturing, the surface roughness of the parts produced can constrict their use in industries such as aerospace and medical. Having worked closely with Fintek we know that they are the UK’s foremost experts in meeting the real-world surface finishing needs of engineers. Palms gives them a new tool that is especially effective for metal parts made by 3D printing, as well as machined parts.”

For further information
www.fintek.co.uk/machines/palms